One day, Russian writing legend Leo Tolstoy (1828-1910) was standing on the platform of the Tula station when a courier train made a brief stop.

A gentleman quickly exited a first-class carriage and dashed toward the buffet. Moments later, a lady emerged from the carriage and called after him, ‘George! George!’ But George, focused on the buffet, didn’t hear her.

The lady, in a hurry, noticed Tolstoy nearby, mistaking him for an ordinary old man. She approached him and said, ‘Old man, could you please fetch that gentleman over there? I’ll give you a penny.’

Tolstoy, amused, complied and brought George back to the lady, who handed him the promised penny.

As this unfolded, the onlookers on the platform began to whisper excitedly, ‘Look, it’s Tolstoy!’ The lady, now intrigued, asked, ‘Where? Where?’

When they pointed to the old man who had retrieved George, she was mortified. Rushing over, she exclaimed, ‘Count Tolstoy, please forgive me! I’m so embarrassed…’ She then asked for the penny back.

Tolstoy, an exceptionally rich count, with a hearty laugh, replied, ‘No, I won’t give up this penny… It may be the only penny I’ve ever honestly earned.’ As the third bell rang, signaling the train’s departure, the flustered lady quickly retreated to her carriage.

This anecdote, from Ivan Nazhivin’s biography Tolstoy’s Soul, captures Tolstoy’s humility and humor, even in the face of mistaken identity. You can share this story on social media:

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